Cherie Kay Biggar

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Cherie Kay Biggar (Barber), 71, of Henry, IL on Thursday, September 26 after a brave battle with Colorectal Cancer. She was born in Peoria in 1953 to Russell K. and Alma (Kreiter) Barber. Cherie graduated from Richwoods High School and attended Stephen’s Beauty School. She was married to Kenneth Hamm for 25 years and that union made Cherie the proud mother of three daughters. In December of 2003, she married Thomas Biggar and together they enjoyed 20 years with family, community, and their treasured dog, Roxy.

Cherie worked for several years at Arrowhead Country Club, Affina, and The Peoria Association of Realtors, in addition to running childcare services from her home. She also inherited the family's proclivity for creative pursuits and spent her free time perfecting her talents in various endeavors such as cake decorating, painting, sewing, knitting, crocheting, working with stained glass, caning chairs, refinishing furniture, and navigating home repair projects. Her uniquely quirky sense of humor carried her through until the end and she will be fondly remembered by everyone she encountered. Those who loved her will deeply miss the unceasingly exuberant support and encouragement their Mo, MoMo, Momma, Auntie, GramGram, Grams, and Big Chicken (bawk, bawk) showed for every accomplishment, big and small.

Cherie was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend. She is survived by her husband, Tom; her daughters Krish (Dustin) Anders of Fort Collins, CO; Shoheen (Kenneth) Cotty of Fort Collins, CO; and Heather (Jason Hoskin) Reynolds of Richmond, VA; her beloved grandchildren Ian Anders, Skye Anders, Jaxon Anders, Alyda Cotty, Lily Cotty, Brecken Biggar, and Wesley Biggar. Cherie was preceded in death by her parents; oldest brother, Russell W. Barber; sister-in-law, Bonnie (Masters) Barber; and nephew, Scott Barber.

Cherie was never one for solemn formal events and chose to have her family host a celebration of her life at a future date. The family will notify loved ones when this celebration has been scheduled and will make details available through her memorialized Facebook account. If you would like to make a donation in lieu of flowers to honor Cherie’s memory, please consider St. Jude Midwest Affiliate, as it was close to her heart, or the OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home, which took such care with her comfort in her final weeks.